Plant · GBIF taxon 5320619
Fire-star orchid
Epidendrum radicansAlso known as Crucifix Orchid, Reed-Stem Epidendrum, Ground-Rooting Epidendrum, Rainbow Orchid
Fire-star orchids grow as terrestrial or scrambling plants, producing prominent white roots along their upright reed-like stems that allow them to clamber over surrounding vegetation. Their vibrant clusters of orange, red, and yellow flowers bloom nearly year-round, using non-rewarding mimicry to trick butterflies into visiting without offering nectar. Unlike most epiphytic orchids, this resilient plant thrives in open, disturbed habitats like sunny road cuts and grassy mountain slopes.
FloweringTerrestrial OrchidTropical
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Caterpillars
- Snails
- Aphids
ThreatsHabitat clearance, localized plant collecting
HabitatsOpen mountain slopes, road cuts, grassy banks, disturbed brush
Life spanPerennial
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsparagales
- FamilyOrchidaceae
- GenusEpidendrum
- SpeciesEpidendrum radicans
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Finding Flowers: Look along sunny, exposed road cuts and grassy hillsides at middle elevations.
- Identifying Features: Note the aerial roots emerging along the vine-like stems and the cross-shaped lip.
- Growing Habit: Observe how stems sprawl along the ground and climb through surrounding brush.
Floral Model (c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets Reverte · cc-by
Floral Model no rights reserved, uploaded by Dave Brown · cc0
Pollinator Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Manuel Ortiz · cc0
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